What life lessons would you pass on in your final days?
As they care for people living with a terminal illness and reaching the end of life, Marie Curie Nurses and Healthcare Assistants up and down the country get to hear the advice and stories of the people they’re caring for.
As part of Marie Curie and Superdrug’s partnership, we spoke with Marie Curie Nurses and Healthcare Assistants across the country to find out what they’ve learned from people at the end of life – from never going to sleep on angry word to keeping up small acts of self-care during terminal illness.
“They never left each other’s company or went to sleep on a cross word”
Sarah Doherty, a Marie Curie Nurse working in London for over 10 years, tells of an elderly couple who’d been married for over fifty years. “When I ask their secret, I was told they never left each other’s company or went to sleep on a cross word. They would hold a truce until when they next saw each other and if they could remember what the issue was they would take it up again. If it wasn't remembered, then it wasn't worth discussing or worrying about.”
Clinical Nurse Specialist Lisa Brentnall, who’s worked in Derbyshire for over 20 years said, “Thinking of those patients I’ve nursed who have undergone chemotherapy, lashes and brows are so important to some people. Ladies – and men – should still be supported to continue their routines.”
“These rituals aren’t about vanity, they’re about identity”
“Spending time with people in their final days gives you a very clear sense of what really matters,” she Ashleigh, a nurse at the Marie Curie Hospice, Newcastle. “We often hear patients talk about wanting to forgive more quickly, to say the things they feel and not leave words unsaid. We also hear reminders to take pride in who you are and not lose the things that make you feel like yourself.
“For many, that includes small acts of self-care – brushing their hair, choosing their favourite outfit, putting on perfume or a much-loved bold lipstick. Those rituals aren’t about vanity; they’re about identity, dignity and doing things that make them feel good – right up until the final days. Feeling clean, comfortable and confident can make an enormous difference, even in the most difficult times. It’s often those quiet moments that stay with us long after a patient has gone.”
Watch: End of life lessons from Marie Curie and SuperdrugWatch: End of life lessons from Marie Curie and Superdrug
Marie Curie’s top 10 life lessons
As revealed to Marie Curie Nurses and Healthcare Assistants*
- Never go to sleep on an angry word
- Don’t let worry rob you of the time you have
- Time with loved ones is everything
- Don’t wait for ‘one day’ – live in the moment
- Don’t be afraid to go bold if it makes you feel yourself – wear the red lipstick or your favourite perfume
- Let go of grudges and forgive more quickly
- Cherish memories with loved ones
- Keep your hands soft for loved ones to hold
- Don’t work so hard that you miss out on life
- Don't save all your money for a rainy day – use it to make happy memories
*Marie Curie poll of 15 people from Marie Curie nursing teams, February 2026. Results in no particular order.
‘Purchases for Marie Curie Nurses’ is the latest fundraising campaign in Superdrug and Marie Curie long-standing partnership. The campaign aims to raise £200,000, which could fund the equivalent of almost 8,700 hours of nursing care.
Pick up any included product in Superdrug stores from 22 April to 19 May and help fund Marie Curie’s expert end of life care.
